Show ContentsBrest History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Brest family

The surname Brest was first found in Silesia, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Brest family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brest research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1856 is included under the topic Early Brest History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brest Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Brese, Breese, Breser, Bresel, Bres, Bresen, Bressen, Bresler and many more.

Early Notables of the Brest family

Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brest Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Brest migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brest Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johann Heinrich Brest, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1709 1
Brest Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Brest, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 1

Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. Harold  Brest (1902-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 2


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance


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